TechnoLawyer: Litigation/Discovery/Trials

Coming August 10, 2005 to TechnoLawyer NewsWire:  In this issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, you'll learn about a time-tracking utility for all the billable work you perform on your BlackBerry or Treo, a new search utility that bypasses OCR for greater accuracy, free accounting software for small firms, a utility that can batch convert image PDF files into searchable PDf files using Acrobat 7's built-in "Recognize Text" technology, and a new line of duplex scanners designed for law firms.

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Published on Wednesdays, TechnoLawyer NewsWire is a weekly newsletter that enables you to learn about new technology products and services of interest to legal professionals. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Coming August 9, 2005 to TechnoFeature: When trial technology expert Lynn Kenneth Packer tried to persuade Utah's Administrative Office of the Courts to adopt off-the-shelf PC technology instead of Courtroom 21's e-podiums for Utah's state courts, they walked out in the middle of his presentation! In this article, you'll gain an insider's perspective of the rough-and-tumble politics of courtroom technology. What happened in Utah may also happen in your state — or maybe it already has. Join Lynn as he discusses his concerns regarding the Courtroom 21 model in the context of its adoption in his home state of Utah. Whether you agree with Lynn or not, his tale serves as a reminder that spending lots of money on technology does not necessarily provide for best solution.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Tuesdays, TechnoFeature is a weekly newsletter that contains in-depth articles written by leading legal technology and practice management experts. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Coming August 12, 2005 to Fat Friday: Stephen Nipper follows up his recent article with some more tips on health savings accounts, Douglas Thomas reviews HP's Scanjet 5550c, Joel Johnson reviews Pathagoras in his corporate practice, Alex Simpson provides an invaluable tip for those who file rather than pile their e-mail, and Jeffrey Bannon discusses one benefit of "native file review" for those engaged in electronic discovery. Don't miss this issue.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Fridays, Fat Friday is a weekly newsletter that features a grab bag full of genuinely useful product reviews and tips on a wide variety of topics. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Coming August 2, 2005 to TechnoFeature: Electronic discovery is the biggest story in litigation. Soon, every case will involve at least some documents in electronic format. In this article, e-discovery expert David Moon provides an e-discovery primer packed with everything you never knew you needed to know, including the two most common pitfalls, and priceless tips on where to find data, how to preserve it, and how to request it in a reasonable manner that won't be deemed a fishing expedition.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Tuesdays, TechnoFeature is a weekly newsletter that contains in-depth articles written by leading legal technology and practice management experts. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Coming July 27, 2005 to Answers to Questions: Jason Havens reviews his firm's experience with a Health Savings Account, Brent Blanchard explains what maximum annual limit (or stop-loss) means with regard to an HSA, Mark Sargis discusses the top five reasons his firm uses ProLaw, Lawrence Briggi provides an invaluable tip for litigators who apply Bates Stamps to PDF files, and Tim Larason shares his solution for WiFi interference problems (this Post also includes a postscript on WiFi phones). Don't miss this issue.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, Answers to Questions is a thrice weekly newsletter in which TechnoLawyer members answer legal technology and practice management questions submitted by their peers (including you if you join TechnoLawyer). Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Coming July 19, 2005 to TechnoFeature: Using an expert witness in an upcoming case? In this article, veteran trial consultant Timothy Piganelli offers some helpful tips and suggestions for enhancing your expert's testimony and presentation through the use of technology and strategic visual aids. Specifically, Timothy discusses how to work with academic experts, the best way to present the experts report, breaking down complex topics into a simple explanation, and the coordination between the expert, lawyer, and technology manager.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Tuesdays, TechnoFeature is a weekly newsletter that contains in-depth articles written by leading legal technology and practice management experts. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Coming June 30, 2005 to Answers to Questions: Tom Pavone reviews his firm's use of PCLaw, Time Matters, and the Treo 600, Steven Pena reviews a clever telephone messaging service that enables you to avoid wasting time talking to lookyloos and telemarketers, Sean Tierny reports in with important news about a mouse for lawyers and others with hand tremors, Brian Garves provides tips on keeping scanned PDF files small, and Donna Johnson discusses how to use Summation's CopyCase feature. Don't miss this issue.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, Answers to Questions is a thrice weekly newsletter in which TechnoLawyer members answer legal technology and practice management questions submitted by their peers (including you if you join TechnoLawyer). Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Coming June 28, 2005 to TechnoFeature: Who wants to rifle through thousands of pieces of paper when you can just point and click?  Enter digital briefs.  In this article, lawyer and digital briefs pioneer Deborah Ausburn discusses several basic principles lawyers need to follow to ensure that they get the most out of this increasingly popular litigation technology.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Tuesdays, TechnoFeature is a weekly newsletter that contains in-depth articles written by leading legal technology and practice management experts. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Below you'll find one of the five articles from today's edition of TechnoLawyer NewsWire:

Do-It-Yourself Legal Graphics and Trial Exhibits
By Brett Burney

Juries and even clients have difficulty understanding legal jargon, and often find verbal testimony boring. To more effectively communicate legal concepts, you could hire an artist to create snazzy, professional graphics and demonstrative evidence. Or you could save a lot of money by using SmartDraw Legal Solution instead.

If you can "drag-n-drop" with a mouse, you can use SmartDraw Legal to create accident diagrams, calendars, crimes scenes, evidence charts, family trees, floor plans, flowcharts, forensic diagrams, Gantt charts, maps, medical diagrams, organizational charts, patent diagrams and illustrations, storyboards, and the always-popular timelines. Simply select the shapes you need and drop them where they belong. You can add text into a variety of shapes that will automatically expand as you type.

SmartDraw Legal Solution bundles thousands of ready-to-use symbols, templates, shapes, lines, and arrow styles. Additionally, it integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Office and other applications. For example, you can convert images (such as photos) from other programs into a SmartDraw graphic, and you can copy and paste completed SmartDraw graphics into Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and even Visio. SmartDraw also works with leading litigation support software, such as Sanction, Summation, and TrialDirector

If you lack artistic talent, SmartDraw Legal Solution will take you by the hand with step-by-step tutorials, tips, and wizards. If that's not enough, SmartDraw offers 100% free live technical support. When you perfect your masterpiece, SmartDraw Legal Solution gives you the option of printing it in poster size for mounting on foam board. If you don't have a large-format printer handy, SmartDraw has partnerships with AlphaGraphics and Sir Speedy — you can send your job to your local branch directly from SmartDraw Legal Solution's print dialog box.

SmartDraw Legal Solution works with Windows 98 and later. A single license sells for $449, but has an introductory price of $297 with volume discounts available. You can also download a free 30-day trial version. Learn more about SmartDraw Legal Solution.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Wednesdays, TechnoLawyer NewsWire is a weekly newsletter that enables you to learn about new technology products and services of interest to legal professionals. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Coming June 15, 2005 to Answers to Questions: Dianna Reynolds and Bryan Sims explain how to get the most out of Stamps.com in a law office, Duane Murphy reviews Amicus Attorney Vx and X with regard to Palm synchronization, Lawrence King discusses remote control services, and Jennifer Little explains how to use Excel to schedule and track cases. Don't miss this issue.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, Answers to Questions is a thrice weekly newsletter in which TechnoLawyer members answer legal technology and practice management questions submitted by their peers (including you if you join TechnoLawyer). Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.